Page 51 of Papa's Captive
“Not so fast,” he said, and it was then that she noticed his breath reeked of scotch. “I have not married so well as you have managed. I am sure my wife would be thrilled to have the bracelet you are wearing.”
“Why would I give your wife, or you, anything?”
“Because my silence does not come without a price.”
Glancing past her tormenter, Rosie took in the scores of people in the ballroom. All the best and most fashionable families were represented. What would they think of her—and Papa—if they knew?
She already had the answer to that for she had experienced it firsthand.
Her fingers trailed along the bracelet on her wrist. It would be a small price to pay for peace of mind. To protect her papa.
She began to work the clasp when suddenly Lord Hanworth’s face took on a pained looked and he moved abruptly to the side.
Papa! He had Lord Hanworth’s arm twisted around his back while standing behind him to prevent the other party goers from seeing it. “I believe I have heard enough of this. Are you attempting to blackmail my wife?” Papa’s voice was dangerously low and his eyes were nearly black with anger.
“Your wife is the daughter of a treasonous bastard.”
Papa gave Lord Hanworth’s arm an upward tug and his eyes bulged. “And you are not fit to polish her boots.” A vein in Papa’s jaw pulsed visibly. “Let me make one thing clear,” Papa said, “my wife and I have no secrets to keep from society, but if you or anyone else ever threatens her again, you will find a dislocated shoulder the least of your worries.” Papa gave one last wrench to Lord Hanworth’s arm which ended with a gruesome ‘pop’ before he shoved the man aside and took up his wife’s arm instead.
Papa’s manhandling of her former fiance ought to have been cause for concern, but Rosie had never found her papa more attractive. “Oh Papa,” she said, gazing up at him in admiration. “Thank you. I cannot believe I once grieved over the loss of his affection.”
Papa glanced over his shoulder and Rosie looked back as well to see Lord Hanworth holding his arm against his torso and moving swiftly through the crowd before Papa turned her to face him. “I suppose I ought to thank him, for if he had married you back then, we would never have met. And what would my life be without you, my dear Rosie?”
